Big Butterfly Count 2020 launches today
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Wildlife charity Butterfly Conservation have been joined today by naturalist Chris Packham to launch this year’s Big Butterfly Count as a chance for the public to give a gift back to nature this summer.
As so many have sought comfort, inspiration and hope through spending time in nature during the difficult last few months of lockdown, participating in the Big Butterfly Count is an easy way to do something positive to give back and help conserve nature for future generations.
The fine weather of spring 2020 has seen the earliest average emergences of butterflies for the last 20 years and Butterfly Conservation has received thousands of extra enquiries about butterfly and moth sightings made by an ever more nature-loving public.
The Big Butterfly Count, Butterfly Conservation’s annual citizen science event which saw over 113,000 members of the public take part last year, is ready for its biggest year yet.
The UK-wide survey simply asks you to spend 15 minutes in an outdoor space counting the amount and type of butterflies (and some day-flying moths) you see.
There were 11,057 counts submitted in Scotland for the Big Butterfly Count last year with overwhelmingly abundant numbers of Painted Lady butterflies spotted, up 7,541 percent (141,649 spotted) from the previous year, while Green-veined White and Small Copper butterflies saw declines of 56 percent and 60 percent respectively.
Naturalist Chris Packham said: “While so many of us have had a bit more time to appreciate the nature on our doorsteps during the lockdown period, and learning about the natural world has been a mindful distraction from uncertainty, this is a real chance to do something positive and contribute to conserving nature.
"Butterflies and moths are key indicators of the health of our environment and anyone can help contribute to our understanding of these incredible creatures by taking part in in the Big Butterfly Count.
“The sightings you submit will be used to map and measure populations and the geographic spread of species across the UK.
"We’re asking everyone who have been given a helping hand from nature this year to return the favour.”
Senior surveys officer at Butterfly Conservation Dr Zoe Randle said: “We’re excited to find out the results from the Big Butterfly Count this year.
"The very sunny spring weather meant that almost all butterfly species have emerged early this summer, so we’re hoping for some interesting data.
"As our weather patterns change it’s more important than ever for us to be able capture this information.
“We’ve seen an incredible amount of interest from people who have been out and about in their gardens and local areas spotting butterflies for the first time.
"From children learning about the life cycle of a butterfly from a caterpillar found in their own back gardens to adults who have spotted a fluttering Red Admiral while exercising outside instead of at the gym.
"Nature has really shown its true value to us this year, but it is still under threat.
"Now, more than ever, we must all do our little bit to protect it.”
The Big Butterfly Count is open to everyone, from ages three to 103, and provides a real contribution to science and our understanding of butterfly and moth populations in the UK, a key indicator of the health of our environment, including the effects of climate change.
You can visit bigbutterflycount.org to find out more or download the free Big Butterfly Count app to enter your findings.
